SINGAPORE - Two men were arrested for being involved in a scheme to use counterfeit notes in the purchase of a vessel.

In a statement on Sunday (Sept 3), the police said that they had arrested two men, aged 36 and 39, who are believed to be caught up in a case of commercial crime involving more than S$1 million.

On Sept 2, the seller in France, who was about to close the sale of the vessel, discovered that the deposit he received was in counterfeit notes. At that time, the two men were in Singapore to collect a sales commission for the sale of the vessel.

The victim informed the Singapore office to stop the sales commission, but by then, the two men had left with the commission of about S$1.5 million. A police report was made.

Officers from Clementi Police Division worked with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to arrest the duo at Woodlands Checkpoint, less than three hours of the case being reported.

More than S$400,000 was recovered from the two men.

They will be charged in court on Sept 4 with cheating with common intention. If convicted, they may be jailed for up to 10 years each and fined.